Container for shipping and display

ABSTRACT

A container is convertible from a shipping configuration in which it protects products stored therein during shipping into a display configuration in which the products are displayed in a retail setting and easily accessible to customers.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/367,396 entitled CONTAINER FOR SHIPPING AND DISPLAY filed Jul. 28, 2016, the entire content of which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure relates to a box or container for shipping products that is convertible into a display for the products shipped. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a box or container preferably used for shipping and displaying distilled spirits.

Related Art

Conventional shipping boxes or containers are primarily designed to provide durability and protection for the products shipped therein. In general, after a retailer receives a shipment of products, the products must be unloaded from the shipping container or box and then loaded onto a display element in the retail store for consumers to see and purchase. This can be a time consuming and inefficient process. The shipping container is usually simply discarded, which is a waste of resources.

Accordingly it would be beneficial to provide a shipping container or box that is also usable to display the items shipped therein in a retail setting.

SUMMARY

It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a box or container that is sufficiently durable to protect products that are stored therein during shipping and that is also convertible into a display element for the products in a retail setting. In an embodiment, the box or container is used to ship and display distilled spirits, however, the container is not limited to use with distilled spirits.

A container in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a base including a bottom element, a front wall extending upward, a rear wall extending upward and a pair of opposed sidewalls connecting the front wall to the rear wall, a top element positioned on top of the base and including a top portion, and sidewalls extending downward therefrom to overlap the front wall, rear wall and pair of opposed sidewalls of the base, a divider element including a plurality of storage spaces, the divider element mounted in the base on top of the bottom element and between the front wall, rear wall and opposed sidewalls; and a display element positioned on top of the divider element, wherein the top element and divider element are removable from the base and the display element is mounted on the rear wall of the base such that an interior of the base is visible.

A method of converting a container from a shipping configuration to a display, where the container includes a base, a top element positioned on top of the base and including a top portion and sidewalls extending downward therefrom to surround the base, a divider element including a plurality of storage spaces, and mounted in the base and a display element, where the method includes steps of removing the top element of the container, removing the display element from the container, removing the divider element of the container such that products stored in the container are visible in the base and mounting the display element on a rear wall of a base of the container.

A container in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a base including a bottom element, a front wall extending upward, a rear wall extending upward and a pair of opposed sidewalls connecting the front wall to the rear wall, a top element positioned on top of the base and including a top portion, and sidewalls extending downward therefrom to overlap the front wall, rear wall and pair of opposed sidewalls of the base, a divider element including a plurality of storage spaces, the divider element mounted in the base on top of the bottom element and between the front wall, rear wall and opposed sidewalls, a peripheral element surrounding the divider element on the left, right front and rear sides thereof; and a display element positioned on top of the divider element, wherein the top element, divider element and peripheral element are removable from the base and the display element is mounted on the rear wall of the base such that an interior of the base is visible.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, advantages and benefits of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following description of the disclosure which refers to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like features across the several views, and wherein

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary container in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; (Convert To Drawing)

FIG. 2 illustrates the container of FIG. 1 with a top element thereof removed; (Convert To Drawing)

FIG. 3 illustrates a more detailed view of the top element of the container of FIG. 1; (Convert To Drawing)

FIG. 4 illustrates a more detailed view of a display element of the container of FIGS. 1-2;

FIG. 5 illustrates the interior of the container of FIG. 1 with the top element and display element thereof removed; (Convert To Drawing)

FIG. 6 illustrates the interior of the container of FIG. 1 with the top element, display element and a peripheral element thereof removed; (Convert To Drawing)

FIG. 7 illustrates the container of FIG. 1 with a divider element hereof removed and with the display element attached to a rear wall of the base element; (Convert To Drawing)

FIG. 8 illustrates the top element of the container of FIG. 1 in an unfolded state and indicating exemplary dimensions thereof;

FIG. 9 illustrates a more detailed view of the base element of the container of FIG. 1 in an unfolded state and indicating exemplary dimensions thereof.

FIG. 10 is an exemplary flow chart illustrating a method of converting a container from a shipping configuration to a display configuration in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a container 1 that converts from a shipping configuration for shipping products (see FIG. 1, for example) to a display configuration to display those same products (see FIG. 7, for example) at the destination in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 1 shows the container 1 in a shipping configuration. In this configuration, the container 1 surrounds and securely holds the products carried therein and provides for secure shipping of products. As illustrated, the container 1 is a cardboard box, however, other materials may be used if desired.

In FIG. 2, the top element 10 of the container 1 has been removed to show the interior of the container 1. FIG. 3 illustrates a more detailed view of the top element 10 after it has been removed from the container 1 and inverted. As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, the top element 10 is generally configured similar to a conventional shipping box top and includes a top portion 10 a, that may include opposing flaps 10 a 1, 10 a 2 and sidewalls 10 b extending downward therefrom on the front, rear, left and right sides. As illustrated, the flaps 10 a 1, 10 a 2 may be held together using tape, however any suitable connecting element may be used to hold the flaps together, at least for shipping. While the flaps 10 a 1, 10 a 1 are illustrated, the top element 10 need not include flaps such that the top element 10 a may be formed as a single piece. In a preferred embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 2, a display element 12 sits on top of a divider element 14 (see FIG. 4, for example) just under the top element 10 in the container 1 while in the shipping configuration. The display element 12 is sized and shaped to fit within the container 1 when in its shipping configuration and is preferably removed from the container 1 after the top element 10 is removed. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the display element 12 preferably includes a pair of slots 12 a, 12 b formed perpendicular to a bottom edge thereof with a tab 12 c formed therebetween. The slots 12 a, 12 b and tab 12 c are used to connect the display element 12 to the base element 16 (see FIG. 7, for example) of the container 1, as will be explained below.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the interior of the container 1, which is covered by the top element 10 in FIG. 1, includes a divider element 14 including a plurality of storage spaces 14 a that are used to store products P during shipping. A peripheral element 15 may surround the divider element 14. While the peripheral element 15 is illustrated in FIG. 5, it need not be included in the container 1. The products P illustrated in the present disclosure are rectangular cans so the storage spaces 14 a are substantially rectangular in shape and are dimensioned to accommodate the cans. The container 1, however, can be used to ship and display any desired product P. As noted above, in a preferred embodiment, the container 1 is used to ship and display distilled spirits. However, the size and shape of the storage spaces 14 a of the divider element 14 may be modified to accommodate the particular products P that are being shipped and displayed. In an embodiment, the divider element may be excluded, if desired. Similarly, the size of the container 1 may be modified to accommodate different types of products. In addition, while the container 1 is illustrated as being rectangular in shape, the container 1 is not limited to this particular shape.

The peripheral element 15 is surrounded by the sidewalls of the top element 10 when the top element is in place on top of the container 1 as shown in the shipping configuration of FIG. 1. As a result, when the peripheral element 15 is used, multiple layers of protection are provided for the products P during shipping. As noted above, however, the peripheral element 15 need not be present in the container 1. In any event, after the top element 10 and display element 12 are removed from the container 1, the peripheral element 15 is preferably also removed as can be seen in FIG. 6, for example, to provide easier access to the products P.

The divider element 14 is also preferably removed and the products P remain in the base 16. In a preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the display element 12 is attached to a rear wall 16 a of the base 16 to draw attention to the products P that remain in the base element. In particular, the rear wall 16 a of the base element 16 slides into the slots 12 a, 12 b of the display element 12 with the tab 12 c bending forward and engage the rear wall 16 c as can be seen in FIG. 7. If desired, the tab 12 c may bend rearward or forward.

The front wall 16 b of the base element 16 is preferably substantially lower than the rear wall 16 a. The larger rear wall 16 a provides a backdrop against which the products P are displayed. The sidewalls 16 c are positioned on the left and right sides of the base 16 and preferably slope downward from the rear wall 16 a to the front wall 16 b. As a result, the products P are easily seen and are easily accessible to customers from the front of the container 1. The products P are preferably placed on the bottom portion 16 c of the base 16.

In an exemplary embodiment, the container 1 of the present disclosure may be made of corrugated cardboard however, as noted above, any suitable material may be used. FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a sheet of cardboard that is sized and shaped to fold to provide the top element 10 of the container 1. The dimensions illustrated in FIG. 8 are merely exemplary and can be scaled upward or downward to provide the container 1 in any desired size. Similarly, the dimensions of the display element 12 illustrated in FIG. 4 are exemplary and can be scaled upward or downward as desired. FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary sheet of cardboard that is sized and shaped to fold into the base element 16 of the container 1. The dimensions indicated in FIG. 9 are similarly exemplary and may be scaled upward or downward to provide a container 1 of any desired size.

Use of the container 1 saves both time and effort for retailers in that there is no need to unload a shipping container and then rearrange the contents thereof in a display element. In addition, using the container 1 reduces waste since the same structure is used for shipping and display of products. Accordingly, the container 1 of the present disclosure offers numerous advantages over conventional shipping containers and display elements. In the shipping configuration of FIG. 1, the container 1 is suitable for shipping quantities of product stored therein while providing for protection during the shipping process. Once the container 1 arrives at its destination, the container 1 can be converted into the display configuration discussed above so that the products stored therein can be displayed in a retail setting without having to remove them from the container 1.

To convert the container 1 from the shipping configuration to the display configuration the user removes the top element 10 from the base 16, as indicated in step S100 of the exemplary flowchart illustrated in FIG. 10. At step S102, the user removes the display element 12 from the top of the divider element 14. At step 104, the user removes the divider element 14 from the base 16. In a preferred embodiment, the user then mounts the display element 12 on a rear wall of the base 16 at step S106. If the peripheral element 15 is provided in the container 1, it is also removed from the base 16, either before or after removal of the divider element 14 at step 104. While mounting of the display element 12 is preferred and likely simpler after the divider element 14 is removed, if desired, the display element may be mounted before removal of the divider element, if desired.

Although the present disclosure has been described in relation to articular embodiments thereof, many other variations and modifications and other uses will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A container comprising: a base including a bottom element, a front wall extending upward, a rear wall extending upward and a pair of opposed sidewalls connecting the front wall to the rear wall; a top element positioned on top of the base and including a top portion, and sidewalls extending downward therefrom to overlap the front wall, rear wall and pair of opposed sidewalls of the base; a divider element including a plurality of storage spaces, the divider element mounted in the base on top of the bottom element and between the front wall, rear wall and opposed sidewalls; and a display element positioned on top of the divider element; wherein the top element and divider element are removable from the base and the display element is mounted on the rear wall of the base such that an interior of the base is visible.
 2. The container of claim 1, further comprising a peripheral element mounted in the base and surrounding the divider element, wherein the peripheral element is removable from the base after the top element is removed.
 3. The container of claim 1, wherein each storage space of the plurality of storage spaces is sized to accommodate a desired product.
 4. The container of claim 3, wherein the desired product remains in the base after the divider element is removed from the base and is accessible to a user.
 5. The container of claim 1, wherein the front wall of the base is lower than the rear wall and the pair of opposed sidewalls extend upward along their length from the front wall to the rear wall.
 6. The container of claim 1, wherein the top element includes a pair of opposed flaps forming the top surface thereof, wherein the flaps are foldable from an open position wherein the interior of the container is accessible, to a closed position in which the interior of the container is covered.
 7. The container of claim 1, wherein the display element further comprises at least one slot formed along a bottom edge thereof, the slot configured to accept a top portion of the rear wall of the base.
 8. The container of claim 7, wherein the at least one slot is a first slot and the display element further comprises: a second slot formed along the bottom edge thereof, the second slot positioned parallel to the first slot and spaced laterally away from the first slot such that a tab is formed between the first slot and the second slot.
 9. The container of claim 8, wherein the first slot and second slot receive a top portion of the rear wall of the base and the tab flexes forward or backward when the display element is mounted on the top edge of the rear wall of the base.
 10. A method of converting a container from a shipping configuration to a display, where the container includes a base, a top element positioned on top of the base and including a top portion and sidewalls extending downward therefrom to surround the base, a divider element including a plurality of storage spaces, and mounted in the base and a display element, the method comprising the steps of: removing the top element of the container; removing the display element from the container; removing the divider element of the container such that products stored in the container are visible in the base; and mounting the display element on a rear wall of a base of the container.
 11. The method of claim 10, further comprising removing a peripheral element mounted in the base and surrounding the divider element in its front, rear, left and right sides.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein each storage space of the divider is sized to accommodate a desired product and the container accommodates of plurality of such desired products.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the desired product remains in the base after the steps of removing the divider element and mounting the display element.
 14. The method of claim 10, wherein the base further comprises: a front wall; a rear wall; and a pair of opposed sidewalls extending between the front wall and the rear wall, wherein the front wall is lower than the rear wall and the pair of opposed sidewall extend upward along their length between the front wall and the rear wall.
 15. The method of claim 10, wherein the top element includes a pair of opposed flaps forming the top surface thereof, wherein the flaps are foldable from an open position wherein the interior of the container is accessible to a closed position in which the interior of the container is covered.
 16. The method of claim 10, wherein the display element further comprises at least one slot formed along a bottom edge thereof, the slot configured to accept a top portion of the rear wall of the base.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one slot is a first slot and the display element further comprises: a second slot formed along the bottom edge thereof, the second slot positioned parallel to the first slot and spaced laterally away from the first slot such that a tab is formed between the first slot and the second slot.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of mounting the display element on the rear wall includes inserting a top edge of the rear wall into the first slot and second slot of the display element. and flexing the tab forward or backward such that the display element is mounted on the top edge of the rear wall of the base.
 19. A container comprising: a base including a bottom element, a front wall extending upward, a rear wall extending upward and a pair of opposed sidewalls connecting the front wall to the rear wall; a top element positioned on top of the base and including a top portion, and sidewalls extending downward therefrom to overlap the front wall, rear wall and pair of opposed sidewalls of the base; a divider element including a plurality of storage spaces, the divider element mounted in the base on top of the bottom element and between the front wall, rear wall and opposed sidewalls; a peripheral element surrounding the divider element on the left, right front and rear sides thereof; and a display element positioned on top of the divider element; wherein the top element, divider element and peripheral element are removable from the base and the display element is mounted on the rear wall of the base such that an interior of the base is visible. 